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A guide on mens wedding rings.

A guide on mens wedding rings and some things to think about.

Now Mens wedding rings come in all different shapes and sizes, I myself am always thinking of trying to make something just slightly different. However for most, a plain simple classic band will do the job nicely. However there are a few things to consider first before you just settle for any band that fits off the shelf. 

Since that wedding ring is going to be on your finger for many years it’s worth selecting a wedding ring that meets some criteria. Take just a little time and have a think. 

What metal?

Nowadays you have a choice of precious metals to choose from. Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum, Palladium, not to mention the different karats of gold available. It’s easy to get bogged down and feel a bit lost. 

A good place to start is choosing what colour metal you want for your wedding ring. If you wear a watch or other jewellery then its worth considering what colour would match with the rest of your jewellery or watches you own. Do you have a gold dress watch, or is it stainless steel? Did you want your wedding ring to match? Do you want to match your fiancee’s wedding ring? Do you like traditional, contemporary, or unique styled wedding rings?

From a hard-wearing point of view, platinum and palladium wedding rings for men are all very heard-wearing compared to Gold or silver. If you have a job thats very hands on then choosing one of these metals would be recommended over silver as they would last longer. Platinum or palladium are also great for anyone with skin issues as they are all hypo-allergenic. 

Style? 

Men who favour the contemporary look may prefer incorporating more than one coloured metal into a wedding ring. This not only adds visual appeal but can solve problems of matching watches, matching other jewellery and of course matching the bride’s wedding ring.

Rings also come in different widths and thicknesses so its important to try some rings on and get a feel for how wide and thick you might want it. Wedding rings with diamonds tend to be a little thicker due to the depth of the diamonds set. The wider the band the heavier the band will be. 

Shape?

Flat, D Shape, Court shape, Flat court shape, slight court shape?? Confused yet? 

There are a fair few shapes to choose from but don’t get bogged down with them. It’s simple, do you want a Flat band or a Rounded band? Court or comfort fit as its sometimes known is the inside of the band. The ring is rounded off on the inside for comfort so there are no sharp edges. This is something I do as standard on all rings I make because it makes the band fit and feel much nicer.

Again you need to try on some rings to get an idea of the difference in feel. Check out my guide on wedding ring profiles for more information. 

Lastly and most importantly have a bit of fun! You don’t need to decide straight away..  as long as you have enough time of corse. Having a wedding ring especially made for you too will not only allow you to combine elements from different rings but will also allows for a personal feel. Especially if photos are taken of the making process!

Thanks for reading. 

The difference between Gold and Platinum. 

The Difference between Platinum and Gold. Is Platinum really better than Gold? How strong is platinum really? These are just a couple of questions I’m going to tackle in this short but sweet post.

To answer these questions we have to understand a little history of Precious Metals, how it’s used and why we like it so much. I’ll also be taking a dive into the Molecules that make up these metals to see how they behave under force.

Gold has been used for thousands of years for making Jewellery. It’s very colour suggests Luxury, expense and shine. Gold in its rawest form is soft and very malleable, meaning it’s very easy to make things with. Gold is so soft if you had a 999 fine gold bar 2mm thick and a few centimetres long you could easily bend this with your own fingers. Because gold is so soft it’s usually mixed with other precious metals like silver to bring the gold content down to make the metal a little stronger. For example 9ct Gold in the Uk has a Hallmark code of 375. Simply this means that there is 375grams of fine gold per 1000grams of metal. Meaning there is 625grams of other metals per 1000grams like silver mixed with the gold. The more gold is added the higher carat of Gold the metal contains.

Gold is also a metal that doesn’t rust, corrode, stain or change colour. It’s also a great conductor so it’s used in wiring and circuit boards. Polished Gold is also a great heat reflector to keep objects cool.

My point is that Gold has so many different uses and is unlike any other metal on earth.

So why do we all want Platinum now for our Jewellery? 

Over the years white metals have become more popular. Sterling silver has always been popular for making Jewellery and Silver cups ect.. its very soft and malleable and even has healing properties. The problem with silver is that it’s quite a dirty metal, its softer than 18ct gold, it Tarnishes easily and is much more readily available than gold meaning its cheap. In older Jewellery silver was often used to set in the diamonds and then the rest of the band would be gold. Because silver is soft this made for the perfect metal to set in precious stones like Diamonds into Jewellery without too much risk of breaking the stone when setting.

During the early 17th Century Platinum was discovered but wasn’t used in Jewellery until the late 17th century due to the difficulty in working with its high melting point. Platinum soon became a popular alternative for collets and settings due to its harder wearing qualities.

As the years go on white metals became more popular and white gold was introduced, a blend of Gold and white metals to bring the carat down but keeping the metal as white as possible. Due to White gold not really being completely white, its then finished with a plating of rhodium. In recent years palladium is now mixed with the Gold to give a much whiter finish, reducing the need for plating as often. This is really where platinum comes in. Platinum doesn’t need plating at all, so this and its Harder wearing qualities makes for the perfect combination for an Expensive luxury engagement ring that will stand the test of time.

There is however another side to Platinum that isn’t well-known to the average buyer or sales person. Platinum is a great metal for use in jewellery making, when polished correctly it has a brilliant shine. Its a very dense metal, so it feels heavy and substantial. Platinum is harder wearing than all the other Precious metals too so it will last you longer. But …. Platinum is still a soft metal. Its will still scratch, it will still break, and it will still go out of shape when hit hard enough. In fact in some cases platinum will have heavier or deeper marks compared to at 18ct ring put through the same stress. This doesn’t mean its not a hardwearing metal but it does mean its just as venerable to damage.

Taking a closer look into the structure of platinum reveals that all the molecules are very tightly compact, as you would expect from such a dense metal. However when Platinum is struck with an object with force the small molecules move slightly. They move in the direction of the force implemented. This means that if you had a Platinum ring and you went to the gym and picked up dumbbells with a metal mesh grip you would be marking the metal and you’d be able to see it. It works the same for flat smooth objects too. If you had a platinum ring and at the Gym you picked up dumbbells with a completely smooth metal grip. This would mark the platinum but over a greater surface area, meaning you wouldn’t really notice a mark even though it has marked, much like a Planishing hammer. My point is that platinum will mark and scratch like other metals.

So why is Platinum harder wearing then?

Simply put, Platinum is harder WEARING because the particles and molecules move! Your noticed I empathise the word harder WEARING as opposed to Harder metal. Platinum isn’t a hard metal … its a harder wearing metal compared to Silver, Gold and Palladium. Because the particles move and don’t chip off as much, they just move about. Meaning you may have a few marks and scratches over the years but most of the platinum is still there. The particles of 9ct Gold or 18ct Gold on the other hand don’t move as much so they chip off more easily. Have you ever noticed how older Gold rings seem to be thinning round the back of the shank? This is where most of the wear and tear happens. I’m not saying a platinum ring wont do this of corse, because it will, but over a longer time. The question should be, what metal is actually harder.. 18ct Gold or Platinum. The answer is, there both as hard as each other. Platinum will last longer but will incur more marks over time. 18ct will incur less marks but will wear down over a shorter period.

So what metal is better?

I dont really think one metal is better than the other. There are advantages for having both.

For Platinum, we don’t need to have it Re-plated every 12 months. Its as shiny as other white metals when polished and finished correctly. White gold can be just as durable on the correct piece of jewellery. So really it comes down to personal taste and professional advice. Check them both out before you decide and base your decision on what you feel comfortable with given the facts.

Thanks for reading.

Two Tone Bands and How My Process works

Meeting the Client. 

I met my client at a Wedding Fayre I was exhibiting at recently. They wanted to make a wedding ring using the gold from a wedding ring that belonged to a family member. I explained that this was defiantly possible and we should set up a meeting. The ring they wanted to use had been in the family for a long time and was old and warn. I explained we could create something that incorporates the old wedding ring but with a new platinum band for it to sit on.

Putting Pen to Paper.

Its not always known straight away what they really want in the way of a wedding ring. So we start by showing samples and examples of weddings to see what they do like and what they don’t. Once I had a good understanding of what they liked I could then draw out a sketch to show them the deign I had in mind for them, a Two Tone Wedding ring. We came up with creating a wedding ring that sits on a wedding ring.

Making

I started by making up the 7mm wide platinum band that would sit under gold band. We then channeled out a groove in the platinum band for the new reformed gold band to sit into. I always feel a sense of gratitude and pride when a customer asks me to make something new from a piece of jewellery that has a history to it. The metal in the ring has such sentimental value. It was a pleasure to make it for them.

Showing the Client. 

They loved what we had created for them. Incorporating an old wedding ring and making something new that he can wear with the knowledge that there is still a history to it and now a new chapter.

I was approached recently to make an Engagement Ring and Wedding Ring set, so my client and I got to work discussing designs and material. It was soon clear that this would be a piece to bring back memories.  This Beautiful Diamond Engagement Ring and Wedding Ring set I recently made has been a real love story for me. This style of ring was one of my first sets I made all those years ago, so I jumped at the chance to make another. I remember the constant fear of mistake that almost overwhelmed me. Now almost 10 years on I get to create another. I’ve made many other Engagement ring and wedding ring sets over the years but this style, in its simplicity bears real significance to me and my work. Set with 2cts of round brilliant cut diamonds in total to create a set that will sparkle beyond expectation. It’s made from Platinum, so this Piece will have the durability to last a life time. A classically delicate ring I’ve loved making and hope to make many more!